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There’s nothing like standing in a 10x10 trade show booth, pitching your business over and over again, to learn what actually works. In this episode of Mike and Blaine, we dive into how trade shows act as a powerful marketing forcing function—exposing weak messaging, sharpening your pitch, and teaching you what really makes potential customers stop and listen.

We break down the hidden value of trade shows beyond the leads and the swag bags. Repeating your message 83 times in a single day forces you to refine your words, drop the fluff, and finally ditch that confusing slogan you’ve been clinging to. It’s an intense but invaluable process that reveals the difference between what you think your value proposition is and what your audience actually hears.

Mike and Blaine share stories of their own trade show experiences—the wins, the cringe-worthy fails, and the lessons that every entrepreneur can apply whether they’re on the floor of an expo or simply pitching their business one-on-one. The booth becomes a mirror, showing you where your branding is strong and where it falls flat.

Whether you leave with stacks of new leads, a sharper marketing message, or just the realization that your slogan needs a reboot, trade shows give you something far more valuable than swag: unfiltered customer feedback that hits right at the heart of your brand.

#CustomerAcquisition #TradeShowMarketing #SmallBusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #MikeAndBlaine

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Mike: Burlington Beer Co. - Uncanny Valley NEIPA

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• Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy in Houston Texas!

• Neighbor Pat

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